Carbon footprint

How we calculate and report our emissions

Rakettitukku has calculated the carbon footprint of its operations annually since 2020. The emissions from our own operations have been low for years, because we use renewable electricity, our office has solar panels and our warehouse uses geothermal heating. Our own operations (Scope 1 and 2) account for only about 1% of our total emissions.

We purchased domestic climate units

In 2024, we aligned the start of Rakettitukku's carbon footprint calculation with our financial year. This makes it easier to track emissions in relation to revenue. Due to this transition, the monitoring period that ended in March 2025 was exceptionally long (1 Oct 2023 – 31 Mar 2025). Emissions for this 18-month period were 1,203.23 t CO2e. Emissions from the use of fireworks during the period were 39.49 t CO2e.

For the calculation period 1 Oct 2023 – 31 Mar 2025, we purchased 120 tonnes of verified domestic climate units (ERU). Climate units do not reduce our own emissions. The units were generated in projects that promote Finland's goal of carbon neutrality by 2035 by increasing the carbon sequestration capacity of forests. In practice, forest growth and carbon sequestration are increased by fertilising conifer-dominated commercial forests in Iisalmi, Kiuruvesi and Juva.

Rakettitukku's climate work

We calculate our emissions for each financial year and aim to reduce them wherever possible. For example, we have reduced the amount of imported plastic. As part of our impactful climate work, we support verified Finnish carbon sinks that promote additional forest growth. Additional forest growth means that trees grow more than they would without treatment.

For the calculation period 1 Oct 2023 – 31 Mar 2025, we purchased verified domestic climate units from carbon sink projects corresponding to 120 tonnes of carbon sequestration. Rakettitukku's carbon footprint calculation includes various direct and indirect emissions, divided into emission categories (Scope 1–3).

Partnered with Green Carbon

Our partner in carbon footprint calculation and the purchase of climate units is Green Carbon Finland Oy. The calculation is always based on the GHG Protocol (Greenhouse Gas Protocol), a standard developed for calculating environmental impacts. The calculations cover Rakettitukku's emissions comprehensively according to the Scope classification. This gives an accurate picture of the size of the company's carbon footprint and helps identify the most significant targets for emission reductions.

Scope 1 covers direct greenhouse gas emissions, such as emissions from company vehicles. Scope 2 covers emissions from the production of purchased energy, such as electricity, heating and cooling. Our calculation also includes Scope 3 indirect emissions arising from the end use of products and from the purchase of goods and services. The climate impact of using fireworks is calculated in CO2e. Otherwise, general emission factors are used in the calculation.

Emissions equal to 115 people a year

Rakettitukku's products are manufactured in China, and the carbon footprint calculation starts at the local factory. Our emissions calculation has developed over the years. When we started, the calculation began at the port of departure in China, but we have now extended it considerably further along the chain and made it more precise. In the future, we hope to use even more detailed emission factors for some items. In any case, the best available factors have been used in the calculation.

The calculation includes all imported products and their impact during use, on the assumption that all imported fireworks are also used. In practice, not all imported products are sold or used in the same year, but this method leaves no room for underestimating emissions.

Rakettitukku's CO2e emissions totalled 1,203.23 tonnes in the period 1 Oct 2023 – 31 Mar 2025. This may sound like a lot at first, but compared with the CO2 emissions of one Finnish person (10.3 tonnes, Sitra), it corresponds to the annual emissions of about 115 people.

We purchase renewable electricity verified with guarantees of origin for our premises

Fireworks use only 4% of emissions

Most (46%) of Rakettitukku's emissions come from manufacturing the products. The next largest share arises when the products travel from China to Finland and are transported to our sales points. Transport accounts for 28% of total emissions and distribution for 9%. Logistics emissions are counted in Scope 3.

Only 4% of our emissions come from the use of the fireworks we sell and 3% from their end of life. Less than 2% of our carbon footprint comes from waste management and business travel. We purchase renewable electricity verified with guarantees of origin for our premises and reduce consumption with solar panels at the office and geothermal heating at the warehouse. Rakettitukku's carbon footprint therefore consists mostly of product manufacturing and logistics. Our emissions are comparable to those of any wholesale business in Finland that imports and sells products from East Asia. The volume of our total emissions depends most on how much we import.

In the previous monitoring period (10/2022 – 9/2023), Rakettitukku's total emissions were 1,196 tonnes CO2e. In the latest 18-month monitoring period, our total emissions were 1,203.23 tonnes, only slightly higher than in the preceding 12-month period.

From now on, Rakettitukku's emissions can be compared accurately with revenue, as the financial year and the emissions monitoring period start and end at the same time. In the financial year ending 3/2025, Rakettitukku's revenue was EUR 6.6 million, while emissions for the period 9/2023 – 3/2025 totalled 1,203.23 tonnes. When the emissions of the latest monitoring period are related to the previous financial year, the ratio of emissions to revenue appears to have decreased. In the previous monitoring period, the ratio was 161.7 t CO2e per million euros.

Spectacle does not indicate pollution

Fireworks are sometimes described as a significant source of pollution, but this is not the case. As mentioned, the use of products accounts for only about 4% of Rakettitukku's carbon footprint. The impression of pollution may arise because fireworks are spectacular by nature and appear to produce smoke when launched. Fireworks are also known for the “smell of gunpowder”, which comes from a small amount of sulphur compounds that the human nose detects easily. In reality, most of the smoke is condensed water vapour. The fine particles from burning gunpowder are practically the same as those produced by traffic, heating a wood-fired sauna or burning candles. In fireworks, they actually burn more completely thanks to the high temperature, whereas combustion is less complete in, for example, traffic-related fine particles. In addition, the amounts of gunpowder in fireworks are relatively small, and fireworks are not used daily.

Fireworks are largely made by hand or with simple machines, so manufacturing requires little energy and no expensive production facilities or other environmentally demanding stages – unlike, for example, electronics manufacturing. Over the years, pyrotechnic compositions have become considerably less toxic and safer for the environment. For example, the lead and arsenic once used in “crackling” compositions are now banned in fireworks under the REACH Regulation.

Carcinogenic substances, such as chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons, have not been permitted in pyrotechnic compositions for years.

As Finland's largest consumer fireworks retailer and through our own imports, we naturally monitor product quality and sell only CE-marked products.